India Issues EoI for MagLev Train Technology

India Issues EoI for MagLev Train Technology :The Indian Government issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for Magnetic Levitation (MagLev) train technology on 2 August 2016, apparently following a briefing to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

The EoI invites interested companies to design, build, operate and maintain MagLev systems for both passenger travel and cargo transportation. The deadline for submittal is 6 September.

Technical and commercial bids would be called for at a later stage.

The Indian Government would provide the land, while the company awarded the contract would design the train and build a 200 – 500 km long elevated track, after successfully demonstrating the technology over a test distance of 10 – 15 km.

Once completed the MagLev system would be operated under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model.

The Indian Ministry of Railways has shortlisted four railway routes for the implementation of MagLev technology:

The expected average speed would be 350 km/h, with a top speed of 500 km/h.

The maximum speed recorded so far in the country was clocked on 14 July 2016 during the ongoing Talgo High Speed Rail (HSR) train trials: 180 km/h. The previous national record belonged to the Gatimaan Express, a semi high speed train that runs between Delhi and Agra.
The worldâ€™s fastest commercial MagLev train currently operates in Shanghai at a top speed of 430 km/h. The 30.5 km line connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport to the outskirts of central Pudong.